Could Cowboys Special Teams Be #1?

[tomson75]

We agree. This is the issue that needs answering. Assuming Jones gets the nod to play this year. With Jones and Jones we have the kickoff and punt returns down. McBriar and Folk can kick. It's up to covering them that matters. I don't have stats but I'm pretty sure we weren't stellar last year.

IIRC we were in the middle of the pack at kickoff coverage, but like 29th in the league at punt coverage. Unacceptable, but it leaves a lot of room for improvement.

 

[BuckyG]

Coverage units havn't seen any additions !?!!

Michael Jenkins will have somthing to say about that, so will the signing of Zach Thomas and Adam Jones. Not to mention a guy like Orlando Scandrick who happen to set school records on special teams in College for blocked punts and kicks.

Furthermore, Dowayne Davis could be a special teams Demon ala' Kenny "the Shark" Gant style and if Eric Walden or Darrell Robertson plan on making the squad, they will certainly have to produce on STs coverage units.


Actually new players contributing on coverage units for the Dallas Cowboys are atleast plentiful, some are even proven and the biggest key, all are willing.

I think it is a "complete given" that Dallas has improved dramatically in Special Teams Coverage Units over the 2008 off-season.


JMhumbleO!

Be serious--do you really believe the Cowboys will have Zach Thomas playing on kick coverage? Also note that I said "good young athletes lacking experience"; i.e., Scandrick, Jenkins, et al. It's all fine and good to say this guy or that guy will be the next Kenny Gant or Keith Davis, but until they do it, they haven't done it. I have high hopes that kick coverage will improve markedly--and I think middle of the pack is a reasonable and attainable goal--but thinking that "worst to first" is even in the ballpark is just ridiculous. That said, and I said it already, if Adam Jones is cleared to play, I think Dallas has a great shot at having the best return unit in football--based on talent and proven skills--but don't expect a handful of rookies to transform a terrible coverage unit into an elite group before they've ever played a game. Get real!

 

[dooomsday]

Not much has been said of the Cowboys special teams improvements this off season. I think the Cowboys have the ability to be the best special teams unit this season.

The Cowboys already have two Pro-bowl caliber kickers in Mat McBriar and Nick Folk.

The Cowboys added some serious fire power with off season additions that should bolster the return game. Adam Jones has proved that he is one of the leagues best return men and will replace Fair-Catch Crayton on punt returns. The Cowboys also have Newman who is available to return punts, as well as rookie Orlando Scandrick.

For kick returns, rookie Felix Jones should be back there and maybe even rookie Mike Jenkins. You can also make a case for Isaiah Stanback and current return man Miles Austin, who have both shown flashes.

An added bonus is that Scandrick is also a kick-blocking machine, so I see no reason why the special teams unit should not be at the top, if not the best in the league.

Our coverage units werent good at all last year IMO. Especially after losing Killer.

Killer, Hoyte, Nate and JR will have to be replaced. I would like to think the rooks can fill in but to jump to #1 is a stretch.

Hope springs eternal. LOL.

 

[Ren]

no Keith Davis is really going to hurt our coverage teams

 

[DaBoys4Life]

I don't see how our special teams could be number one with out devin hester or josh cribbs.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Be serious--do you really believe the Cowboys will have Zach Thomas playing on kick coverage? Also note that I said "good young athletes lacking experience"; i.e., Scandrick, Jenkins, et al. It's all fine and good to say this guy or that guy will be the next Kenny Gant or Keith Davis, but until they do it, they haven't done it. I have high hopes that kick coverage will improve markedly--and I think middle of the pack is a reasonable and attainable goal--but thinking that "worst to first" is even in the ballpark is just ridiculous. That said, and I said it already, if Adam Jones is cleared to play, I think Dallas has a great shot at having the best return unit in football--based on talent and proven skills--but don't expect a handful of rookies to transform a terrible coverage unit into an elite group before they've ever played a game. Get real!

For one Zach has always played special teams. For another Dallas always plays our starters on STs. Adam Jones has been used as a Gunner on a regular basis during his career and also like Thomas, has made huge plays on KO coverage units forcing turnovers.

After replacing a high percentage of last years Coverage team with a playmaker like Adam Jones, a 1st round draft choice in Michael Jenkins, a Pro Bowler Zach Thomas and Orlando Scandrick, instead of players like Nate Jones, fully expect Dallas to be one of the premere Coverage Units...at least talant wise.

In reality, expect them to also produce on the field and make a HUGE difference in 2008.

 

[pugilist]

Not with Bruce Read coaching them. He should have been replaced. Our coverage teams were not very good at all.

..amen

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Not with Bruce Read coaching them. He should have been replaced. Our coverage teams were not very good at all.

Actually this is my main concern. Where is Coach Joe is my hanging question.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

That's my worry. I've pretty much believe that our return games will be much, much, better but I'm still pretty worried about our coverage teams which were just horrible a lot of times last season. Including in that Giants loss that everyone seems to overlook cause it's just so much more fun to put all the blame on Crayton for a dropped ball.

 

[cowboyjoe]

our special teams boils down to mainly 2 things

first how quickly the young rookies can step in and produce; while at same time eliminating the rookie mistakes, all rookies make, remember now just a few years back when cartwright from Commanders returned a touchdown on us,

parcells said crayton, hurd made mistakes on that, as well as carpenter

plain and simple rookies will make mistakes, till they see what the special teams coach is telling them and trust them;

that leads me to my second comment;
coach joe, at the end of the year, some of the players were questioining the special teams coach schemes, etc, so do we have a good special teams coach;

i do know where ever the special teams coach has been, previously with oregon i think and before that the new york giants, the special teams kickoff and punt returns blossomed, so only time will tell,

Again though, 2 main keys
rookie mistakes till they settle in
special teams coach, is he good or not
that i dont know yet